International shipping giant DHL is planning to create 100 new jobs at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

The state on Thursday gave preliminary approval to an incentive package that includes a $1.3 million tax credit for DHL, which has expanded its North American hub several times since returning to CVG from Wilmington, Ohio, in 2009.

DHL is planning a $46 million upgrade of infrastructure and equipment inside its small package-sorting facility. The incentive deal calls for the company to add 100 jobs over a decade, including 40 in the first year. The jobs are expected to pay an average hourly wage of $23.50, according to the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority.

The deal still requires final approval from state economic development authorities and DHL before the project can move forward. It could take up to 18 months to finalize the deal.

"This paves the way for DHL to go forth and make a final decision," said Dan Tobergte, president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corp. "We're encouraged."

DHL has about 2,000 local employees. Last summer, the Germany-based cargo company completed a four-year, $105 million facilities expansion with the addition of a 180,000-square-foot package-sorting facility. That increased DHL's cargo-handling space to 605,000 square feet, and company officials said they expected to add 250 to 300 more jobs in the coming years. •